62 THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 



a very large proportion, perhaps I should say great 

 majority, of excellent hunters which never might have 

 stood a chance of being entered for a royal plate. There 

 are many which, without being like Dibdin's high-mettled 

 racer, 



" Alike formed for sports of the field and the course,'* 



may still lay claim to his attributes, and be found 



"Always sure to come through, a stanch and fleet horse :" 



but if we come to the question, whether thorough-bred 

 horses are not able to beat all others in a long day, and 

 take the evidence of the best performers in all countries, 

 there can be no doubt of a verdict in their favour. We 

 thus hark back upon my maxim concerning hounds, 

 which may, indeed, apply to everything — Blood ivill 

 tell 



If it be asserted that race -horses do not take so readily 

 to fencing, and are more awkward at their business than 

 the old stamp of hunter, I say that, when properly edu- 

 cated, and having once taken to jumping, they are far more 

 clever, because gifted with greater activity. I do not think 

 that they are longer in making than other horses, but the 

 fact is, thei7' schooling attracts attention, while the bun- 

 gling of a novice of minor character escapes observation ; 

 and when the former falls (not exactly in the inde- 

 scribable position of " a thorough-bred one falling at his 

 fence," depicted by a certain artist), every one says that 

 it is just what he expected, forgetting that '* Rome was 



